A man has been jailed for sending a string of vile text messages that were "tantamount to threats to kill" to his "frightened" ex-partner.

Peter David Hall, 47 of no fixed abode, appeared at MoldCrown Court for sentencing after admitting putting Lucy Bronwen Gameson in fear of violence through harassment in February of last year.

He had already been handed a two-year restraining order in September 2015 barring him from contacting her, after he had tormented her dog, threw her phone across the room, pushed her and sent threatening messages after she ended their seven-year relationship.

However the order expired and Miss Gameson, from Wrexham , contacted North Wales Police in February last year after she had received silent phone calls and abusive text messages. She suspected they were from Hall.

Police saw spelling mistakes consistent with Hall's previous messages and found a pay-as-you-go Alcatel phone in his possession which was found to have been used to contact his ex-partner.

Hall, who sat with his head bowed, had originally denied the charge but changed his plea before the trial could start.

Read More

Prosecuting barrister Elen Owen told how one message said: "Good morning Lucy, I hope you're enjoying life as you really don't have very long of your's left. I really can't wait to see you begging for your life. I am watching you. I am closer than you think."

In another Hall said: "Make sure you tell everyone how much you care, you might not get another chance to say it. You won't see it until it is too late."

Hall also told Miss Gameson he would "make sure" her son found her.

In others he said he was watching her and told her she was "playing with fire". He also said: "Accidents happen every day - walking the dog, crossing the road, visiting mum and dad. You really should be more careful."

Video Loading

Video Unavailable

Click to playTap to play

The video will start in 8Cancel

Play now

Victim impact statement

Reading her victim impact statement out in court, Miss Gameson said the messages had caused her a great deal of "stress and anxiety".

She said: "I am scared of Hall and what he is capable of, not only towards myself but also my son. I could not sleep properly and I couldn't relax.

"I also do genuinely believe Hall is capable of hurting me and setting fire to my home. I just want to feel safe and go about my day to day business.

"I want Peter Hall not to be able to contact me or come near my home. He continues to cause me distress."

Read More

The court heard from Hall's counsel Caroline Harris who said he was suffering from his own "medical difficulties" and asked for an adjournment so a pre-sentence probation report could be secured. She said there had been a mix-up which was not the fault of her client.

Judge Rhys Rowlands dismissed the request saying Hall had even been given another appointment and had chosen not to go.

'She's scared of what you're capable of doing'

Hall, who had 10 previous convictions for 19 offences, was jailed for 13 months and made the subject of a five-year restraining order.

Judge Rowlands said: "It's clear you harboured a grudge against her. I don't intend to repeat those messages. They contained what was tantamount to threats to kill.

"These were repeated over several days. Silent phone calls would be truly unsettling and threats which I have no doubt you intended to be unsettling to Miss Gameson. You intended to frighten her and you did just that.

"She's scared of what you're capable of doing. Her sleep has been affected and she felt like she had to look over her shoulder. This is not out of character.

"You do have a number of health issues but I fail to to see how these explain your behaviour in this case."